Bone broth and collagen supplements are often recommended for healing purposes. While much nutritional benefit may be obtained through bone broth and collagen, there are increasing concerns regarding the toxicity of GMO feeds, the use of glyphosate-containing pesticides on crops, and the inadvertent ingestion of glyphosate through consuming bone broth and collagen supplements or foods.
Supermarkets, healthfood stores and online vendors have now saturated the market with bone broth, collagen supplements and foods. The resurgence of bone broth as a healing food experienced a renaissance in recent years for a means of gut healing, and for obtaining its rather unique profile of amino acids and protein source.
Bone broth is obtained by cooking animal bones, ligaments and cartilage for extended periods of time, thereby extracting a reservoir of unique nutrients such as glycosaminoglycans (like chondroitin and glucosamine), as well as collagen and the constituent amino acids such as glycine, proline, glutamine, alanine and many others.
Glyphosate & The Potential Contamination of Conventional Bone Broth & Collagen Supplements
Genetically engineered crops that are “roundup ready” have been engineered to resist the toxicity of glyphosate. The two most common types of feed used for conventionally raised animals are corn and soy.
By Monsanto’s own admission, glyphosate tends to accumulate in bones, ligaments and collagen. A 2017 study by Samsel and Seneff confirmed this finding, and reported on the findings of various packaged food products (1). The paper goes onto discuss how glycine, the most prevalent amino acid in collagen is likely to be replaced by glyphosate residues.
The red flags are evident: animals consuming GMO corn and soy will contain significant quantities of glyphosate in connective tissue, bones, ligaments and collagen. Some feedlot animals are fed diets exclusively of corn and soy. For consumers, this suggests that bone broth and collagen supplements derived from conventional and GMO- raised animals will contain significant concentrations of glyphosate residues. Currently, there are no industry standard tests available to measure or compare glyphosate levels in foods or supplements.
Your safest bet is to source collagen and broth products that have been fed only organic feed, are certified organic or 100% grass fed.
Update – 8-23-17
Vital Proteins returned our inquiry. They intermittently test their collagen peptides for glyphosate through an independent lab.
A random test done in February 2017 found no detectable glyphosate levels. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is labelled as Grass fed and Pasture raised.
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Isn’t LEAD also a concern in most of the bone broth products on the market today ?
Yes lead has been shown to accumulate in bone, and at least one study has been done showing it. Lead and other toxic metals are now ubiquitously being found in foods and produce today. There are collagen companies such as Vital Proteins who do test toxic element levels in specific products.
What is if there is any, the impact between RCCX and the glyphosate toxicity?
It is possible that RCCX phenotypes may be affected. Because glyphosate accumulates in the extracellular matrix of collagen and connective tissue, individuals with joint hypermobility may be affected adversely.